Domestic Policy Priorities Why Did Johnson Win?
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Contents: DOMESTIC POLICY Why did Johnson win? PRIORITIES Domestic policy priorities 1) Infrastructure What next for Brexit? A self-styled ‘infrastructure The future of the Union revolution’ will see £100 bn in Where next for Labour? additional spending going The new parliament at a glance towards improving transport in the north and the midlands. Five new Tory MPs to look out for Whilst a decision on the future of HS2 is expected, further detail on other transport priorities Where next for Labour? WHY DID JOHNSON WIN? could be revealed in the The new parliament at a glance National Infrastructure Strategy, Boris Johnson’s share of the vote was just one percentage rumoured to be published Five new Tory MPs to look out for point higher than Theresa May’s. Instead of a hung alongside the Budget expected parliament, it translated into a majority of 80, and victory shortly after Brexit. in seats including Tony Blair’s former seat of Sedgefield 2) Business and Dennis Skinner’s Bolsover seat. A key Government mission in a Confident of a five-year term if he wants it, this new post-Brexit future will be to political geography will have significant impact on Boris’ make Britain ‘the best country in agenda . In 2024 he will have to account for his record to the world’ to start and grow a the voters in Britain’s de-industrialising heartlands. No business. Party rhetoric has thus wonder his victory speech talked about the NHS and far centred on attracting growth infrastructure investment alongside Brexit. in the technology, financial Analysis of how Boris smashed the ‘red wall’ is going to be services and creative industry key to understanding what he and his competitors need to sectors and, despite a freeze do to succeed electorally in the future. Labour won by 20 rather than cut to corporation points in cities, but lost everywhere else. It is going to be tax, businesses will be bolstered increasingly important to understand the interests of by a reduction in business rates people who don’t live in the big cities where most of our and supported by a new £3 big companies are based. billion National Skills Fund. The Corbynite analysis is that the divide was all about Brexit, The Corbynite analysis is that the divide was all about Brexit, but transparently it wasn’t. Labour was down 10 3) Housing points in strong Leave areas, but it was also down 6 The Tories will look to amend points in strong Remain areas. Brexit cannot explain why planning rules to boost local Jeremy Corbyn was less trusted than Boris Johnson on infrastructure and house building the NHS; and when Lord Ashcroft asked people what and support the development of most put them off voting Labour the number 1 answer – more affordable housing. Leave or Remain – was Jeremy Corbyn. Delta Poll found Leasehold reform will aim to something similar. make housing fairer for The result shows the importance of trust and credibility. consumers, alongside better The video link below takes you to a clip from our focus protections for renters. group with swing voters near Stoke. Who wouldn’t want 4) Environment free broadband? The problem is that Labour was not trusted to deliver it. During the campaign the Prime Minister was keen to brandish his green credentials and this will likely continue. A pathway to achieving net zero by 2050, which will have a direct impact on businesses, will be a key priority alongside publishing an Energy White Paper. The Tories will also look to put their proposals on plastics and recycling into primary legislation. In contrast, Boris effectively only made one pledge and he was utterly believable on it – he will get Brexit done. 5) Health On that note… The Tories have committed to billions in additional funding, to new hospitals and to thousands WHAT NEXT FOR BREXIT? more doctors and GPs. Keen to demonstrate his post-austerity The UK will be leaving the EU on 31 January 2020. But credentials, the Prime Minister’s that’s just the first step of ‘getting Brexit done’ – what success in proving this will rely comes next, and will it all be over by this time next year? heavily on his ability to inject Clearly, Johnson’s large majority and personal mandate funding into the NHS, and prove will give him a lot of leeway in getting his preferred form he is delivering for the health of Brexit. His statements so far suggest he wants a service. relatively narrow UK-EU FTA which prioritises trade and regulatory sovereignty over a more comprehensive arrangement such as May’s Chequers plan, however the new political reality may mean that changes. Such an FTA would preserve tariff and quota free goods trade, but it would increase costs for business in the form of regulatory obligations and associated checks – these would be particularly felt by the advanced manufacturing and services sectors (the Government’s own figures expect an FTA Brexit would still leave GDP 5% lower than staying in). Some now hope that, not beholden to the hard Brexiteer ERG bloc, Johnson could again pivot and embrace a softer Brexit. However, such an arrangement would be a lot more complicated, entail tricky trade-offs and take a lot longer to negotiate with an EU that is as weary of Brexit as the UK electorate. Could an FTA be negotiated within 11 months? This timetable is certainly very ambitious, not least since the relationship will also need to encompass non-economic issues such as security cooperation. However, a relatively narrow, goods-focused FTA could feasibly be agreed in this time, although the EU’s price will also be potentially painful compromises on level playing field provisions and fishing rights in UK waters. Either way, it is unlikely Johnson will take up the option to extend the transition period by the 1 July deadline, having promised not to do so – this means a no deal Brexit on 31 December 2020, while unlikely, cannot be ruled out. That said, if necessary, some kind of further extension mechanism could probably be manufactured closer to the deadline as both sides want a deal. It is also likely specific transition arrangements will be required to phase-in the new ‘points-based’ immigration system and the new Northern Irish dual customs regime. THE FUTURE OF THE UNION The results in Scotland and Northern Ireland – which saw a surge in support for the SNP and nationalists win more seats than unionists in the Province for the first time – pose a range of constitutional challenges for the Government. Winning 48 seats has convinced the SNP they have a renewed mandate for independence, with the party expected to publish a new legal case for a second referendum next week. The anticipated rejection of such a request by a Tory Government with only six Scottish MPs and a distinctly English voice suits the Nationalist argument that Scotland suffers from a democratic deficit and makes the terrain difficult for pro-Union parties in the long-term. A crumb of comfort for dejected unionists is that the pro-independence share of the vote is still, despite Brexit and Boris, just over 45% which is the same figure the losing Yes side achieved at the 2014 poll. In Northern Ireland, the DUP’s losses can be attributed to tactical voting among Remain voters and selective collaboration between the SDLP and Sinn Fein. Despite this, questions are likely to be asked of Arlene Foster’s leadership given she has presided over the loss of unionist hegemony at the devolved Stormont assembly and now Westminster. However, this should not be taken as an indication that a united Ireland is imminent. Sinn Fein’s vote share fell more than any other Northern Irish party including the DUP, while the cross-community Alliance party increased its share most. Rather than categorising Ulster’s politics in traditional orange v green terms, it is clear that an incipient middle ground is actually growing increasingly weary of the constitutional question. WHERE NEXT FOR LABOUR? In the face of last night’s disappointing results for Labour, Jeremy Corbyn has said he will not lead the Party into the next election but will stay on as Leader during a ‘process of reflection’ . Further details of the timetable for his departure and the election of a successor are yet to be confirmed. Labour frontbenchers were quick to pin the blame for last night’s results on a Brexit-focused election, seeking to deflect criticism away from Jeremy Corbyn and his radical policy agenda . As the ground is laid for an upcoming leadership battle, the debate on why Labour lost will continue in the days and weeks ahead. Contenders to succeed Corbyn are already being discussed, with candidates ranging across the Labour Party. Current Shadow Cabinet members Emily Thornberry, Keir Starmer, Rebecca Long-Bailey and Angela Rayner are all tipped to run, whilst prominent backbenchers Yvette Cooper and Jess Phillips are also potentially in the frame. One possible key challenger from the left, Laura Pidcock, lost her seat overnight. Whoever puts their hat in the ring, we can be sure a fierce debate over the Labour Party’s heart and soul is on the horizon. As Labour considers last night’s results and reflects on how to rebuild, a new intake of MPs will arrive in Westminster. Many, including the leadership hopefuls, will be looking for issues to champion or campaigns to throw their weight behind. FIVE NEW TORY MPS TO LOOK OUT FOR NEW PARLIAMENT 1. Anthony Browne (South Cambridgeshire) AT A GLANCE Staunch Brexiteer replaces troublesome Remainer Whilst a record 220 women The Tory rebels, who frustrated May and then Boris’ have been elected to attempts to pass Brexit legislation, have been replaced Parliament, two-thirds of largely by true Brexit believers.